8-year-old dies in Idalou ATV accident

An 8-year-old Idalou boy has died as a result of an all-terrain vehicle accident.

Idalou police said Elijah Urrutia was pronounced dead at a Lubbock hospital Thursday, March 14.

Idalou Police Chief Albert Garcia said the accident occurred just after 4 p.m. in the 1000 block of Pecan Street.

Urrutia was riding in the passenger seat of the ATV with his 19-year-old cousin, Jesse Flores, police said.

Flores was driving down the dirt road at high speeds before he lost control - flipping the ATV multiple times, police said.

"It appears Flores tried to complete a right turn into a private parking lot and collided into the culvert as he entered the driveway and rolled," Garcia said. "Because we are still investigating, we're not sure how many times it rolled, but we know it rolled more than once."

Garcia said because of the size of the ATV, it can be classified as a motor vehicle.

He said both Flores and Urrutia were wearing seat belts, but he believes the 8-year-old might have been partially ejected from the ATV.

"He (Urrutia) is small in stature and the seat belt may not have been tight enough around his body to hold him in securely," Garcia said.

Police said Flores suffered some injuries and was treated and released at the scene.

Urrutia was sent to Covenant Hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead around 5 p.m. Thursday.

Garcia said the Idalou Police Department is working with Idalou Independent School District to set up a benefit fund for the family at one of Idalou's local banks.

Calls to the Idalou ISD superintendent's office were not immediately returned because of the spring break week.

To comment on this story:

ariel.kirkland@lubbockonline.com • 766-8742

leesha.faulkner@lubbockonline.com • 766-8706

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